Re: New, Hardened Shift Fork Tapered Pin from TRF.
Skip this message if you don't want to endure my rambling.
Off-shore importation is a hot topic that seems to pop up on almost every Internet forum I've ever looked at, regardless of the forum's actual stated subject matter. I don't expect to change anyone's mind--because this stuff runs deep--but I'm going to state a few of my own observations.
I'm employed by a medium-sized audio/electronics distributor that markets products through catalogs and the 'Net. Some of you would recognize the name. We sell a lot of stuff sourced from Asia, including some that we design or specify ourselves and directly import. I work with many of these foreign vendors, and even visited China for ten days back in October '05.
Chinese manufacturers can and will build to any specification. They don't have a very good reference point sometimes, considering their screwed-up political/social/economic situation, but they know how to get things done. If you don't specify quality, you won't get it by default. If you do impose strict standards and work closely with them, they can do some very impressive work. It all comes down to partnerships and communication.
Like many Americans, I am skeptical when a product is revealed to have been sourced from China, but what I have learned is that the country of origin is not automatically synonymous with "junk". The percentage of quality products keeps getting better, too. It's a tough situation for consumers: nobody wants to lose their job to foreign competition, but everybody likes to go to the store and buy inexpensive shoes, kitchen appliances, TVs, computers, and, well, car parts.
I'm not trying to promote a personal or political agenda here, I'm just sharing my own observations.
As long as engaged and conscientious suppliers like TRF work with the supplier, I think the parts are OK. If the supplier is less committed...look out!
Best regards,